Case Study:

Direction Services

Direction Service Offers Platinum Healthcare for Employees through the Nonstop Wellness Program

Challenge

In 2016, Direction Service, a multi-program family support nonprofit based in Springfield, OR, realized that its existing health insurance plan could be better – possibly a lot better. With a growing staff in a competitive field, Direction Service knew that it needed a “dream” benefits package to recruit and retain its talented staff, including one that offered comprehensive coverage and allowed the organization to both save and reinvest in employees.

Solution

The solution came when Direction Service executives were attending the Oregon Business Magazine (OBM) "100 Best Nonprofits to Work For" event in 2016. They met the team from Nonstop Administration and Insurance Services, Inc., which was the catalyst for a significant change to the organization's benefits program. The meeting was timely because Direction Service had recently received results from an employee survey, which showed that improved benefits were a critical need for staff members, especially with regards to healthcare.

Mission

To help people with disabilities and special needs live full and healthy lives

Location

Springfield, OR

Number of employees

50+

Estimated savings on Nonstop Wellness

$19,502 annually

Projected Employee out-of-pocket savings

"Moving to the Nonstop Wellness program has been an amazing opportunity for Direction Service, and it still feels too good to be true at times. In fact, that was the theme of the entire process for us. But it’s been a great experience and the impact on our staff has been wonderful. I feel like people are healthier because they are accessing their benefits and getting the care they need.”"

– Aimee Walsh, Chief Executive Officer

Results

For the 2017 plan year, Direction Service was able to save $19,502 in premium spend while also saving employees $25,000 in out-of-pocket costs. In 2018, Direction Service’s Nonstop Wellness rates did increase due to usage in 2017; however, the new rates were still less expensive than if the organization had stuck with a traditional fully-funded plan. The executive team decided that the rate increase wasn’t a deterrent from staying on Nonstop Wellness, saying "even if the rates aren’t competitive, the service and morale for employees is worth it. We’d rather pay more to have the morale we had with employees this year."